For the Democratic Party, the fight against gerrymandering is self-preservation. In 2014, for example, in 2016, Democratic state house received 2,302,417 votes – about 18,000 more than Republican state house candidates. But the Republicans hold a 63-47 majority.

Gerrymandering is also what led to the oddly drawn Michigan’s 7th Congressional district. When Walberg regained his seat in 2010 after being defeated by Mark Schauer in 2008, the Republican-controlled state legislature redrew the district to make it nearly unlosable.

Unless there is a drastic shift in Michigan politics or unless government or the courts force the end of gerrymandering by 2020, when maps are redrawn, the Democrats will face uphill state and federal battles all over Michigan for another 14 years.

League of Women Voters is well-established as a non-partisan organization.

Organizers of the event in Saline say Saline Indivisible and Stronger Together are non-partisan groups but both groups are clearly liberal. Stronger Together has the same name as the slogan for Hilary Clinton’s failed presidential campaign. Its Facebook page is clearly mobilized against President Donald Trump and Congressman Tim Walberg. Saline Indivisible, while not tied to the Democratic Party, has organized to resist Trump’s agenda.

Tran Longmoore is a veteran community journalist. He is founder and owner of TheSalinePost.com. He is co-publisher of The Saline Post weekly newspaper. Email him at [email protected] or call him at 734-272-6294.